BC public schools districts utilize Makeafuture.ca to recruit teachers. These slides provide an inside look as to what school districts look for when recruiting teachers, and what types of positions are demand.

1. SIMON FRASER
UNIVERSITY
How To Find A
Teaching Job
In BC Schools

2. BC Education Overview
• 60 public school employers
• 33,000 unionized educators
• Teachers certified by TRB
• 130+ independent First Nations
Schools
• Schools hire year-round

3. Employment Outlook for
Primary & Secondary Teachers
Sources: http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4142 | http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4141
• 28,300 new jobs (2010-20)
• 81% from replacement
• 19% from expansion

4. Where are the jobs?
Sources:
http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4142 | http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4141
• Jobs are in pop. dense regions
• Jobs are in areas with growing
communities
• Jobs in areas with aging workforce
• Jobs in regions with most kids

5. What types of jobs are posted?
Source: Makeafuture.ca

6. Potential Career Paths
Superintendent
Deputy
Superintendent
Assistant
Superintendent
Director of
Instruction
District
Principal
Principal/Vice
Principal
Psychologist Counsellor Librarian

7. #JobPostings
When are jobs posted?
Source: Makeafuture.ca

8. Salary and Benefits
• Extended health and dental
• Life insurance, pension, long-term disability
• Professional development
• Professional mentoring
• Generous vacation & sick leave
• Rural & remote allowances

9. More about benefits & salaries
• www.makeafuture.ca
– Career Resources  Salary Finder
• www.bcpsea.bc.ca
– Teachers -> Teacher Collective Agreement
• www.bcpseabenefits.ca

10. Applying for Jobs

11. What can I teach?
• Depends on…
what subjects have you taught
what grade levels you’ve worked with
what undergraduate courses you completed
what specific training you’ve received
what languages you’re fluent in

12. Application Checklist
 Gather Your Documents:
 Resume and cover letter
 Practicum evaluation reports
 References (min. 2-3)
 Academic transcripts
 TQS card and BC teaching certificate

13. Application Checklist
 Apply for a BC teaching certificate (TRB)
 Apply for a TQS card
 Set-up an application on Makeafuture.ca
 Set-up Job alerts
 Follow @MakeaFuture & Like Make a Future
 Search and apply for jobs on Makeafuture.ca

14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE-NQAu_qRU&feature=player_embedded
Writing Resumes

15. Write Targeted Cover Letters
• Tailor the letter to your audience
• Personalize it with concrete examples
• Explain “why you’re the best candidate?”
• Use action verbs to describe your work
experience (e.g. Collaborated; Coordinated;
Planned; Evaluated; Assessed)
• Spell Check and Proof Read!

16. Ask For A Good
Reference
Get references from those
who’ve observed you teach
• Ask for a reference letter
• Give your references a
heads-up

17. Searching & Applying for
Jobs on Makeafuture.ca

18. Job Application Tips
Research employers
Do not address your cover letter “To Whom
It May Concern”
Don’t apply for every single job
Follow job application directions
It’s all about timing
Sign-up for job alerts!

19. Interviewing for the Job

20. Interviews compare a
candidate’s skills and
qualifications to
selection criteria

21. What is HR looking for?
1. Subject Matter Knowledge
2. Planning Skills
3. Instructional Skills
4. Assessment Strategies
5. Classroom Management Skills
6. Development as a Professional Educator

22. Interview Questions
Open-ended questions
• Tell me about yourself
• What is your teaching
philosophy?
• Why do you want to work
for our district?
• What books are you reading
right now?

23. Interview Questions
Behavioural-based
questions
• Can you describe a unit or
lesson that you created that
allowed for the participation
of all learners?

24. What
behavioural
questions to
expect

25. How do you plan your
units?
 Tell a story and consider:
 What resources did you consult?
 Did you ask for help?
 Did you look at the composition of
your class?

26. What’s important is that:
 You were thoughtful in preparing
your units while consulting a variety
of resources and considering your
student composition
How do you plan your
units?

27. How do you teach in
the classroom?
 Tell a story and consider:
 What strategies have you used for
instruction?
 How did you present the material?
 How did you engage learners?

28. How do you teach in
the classroom?
What’s important is that:
 You demonstrated the use of diverse
strategies to reach all learners in the
classroom

29. How do you assess &
evaluate students?
 Tell a story and consider:
 What are the different methods you
used to evaluate and assess student
outcomes?
 What did you do with that information?

30. What’s important is that:
 You utilized a variety of assessment
strategies
 You utilized the results of the assessments
to facilitate student learning
How do you assess &
evaluate students?

31. How do you manage
your class?
 Tell a story and consider:
 What was the worse scenario that
you encountered and how did you
deal with it?

32. What’s important is that:
 You demonstrated and employed a
variety tactics when dealing with
classroom issues
 You are able to create a climate and
environment conducive to learning
How do you manage
your class?

33.  Tell a story and consider:
 How have you demonstrated
professional responsibility inside and
outside of the classroom?
 Are you a reflective practitioner?
Howareyougrowingasa
professionaleducator?

34. What’s important is that:
 You demonstrated a collaborative
approach to sharing your knowledge
and helping the educational
community as a whole
Howareyougrowingasa
professionaleducator?

35. Interviewing Tips
Take inventory of your best
lessons & accomplishments
Use a portfolio
Frame answers with STAR
Practice, practice, practice

36. Job Search Resources
• Resumes & Digital
Portfolios
 LinkedIn.com
 CVmkr.com
 VisualCV.com
 Pathbrite.com
• Interviews&CoverLetters
 Quintcareers.com
• Job Search
 Huntsy.com
• Pro D
 Teacher Mentorship BC
 Pita.ca

37. Now What?
• Decide where to work
• Find out who hires at the
district
• Sign-up for job alerts
• Like/Follow MAF
• Clean-up your social
media footprint
• Create an online portfolio

38. Stay in touch
 www.makeafuture.ca
 contactus@makeafuture.ca
 www.twitter.com/makeafuture
 www.facebook.com/makeafuture
 www.makeafuture.ca/subscribe